Universal spring hooking and looping machine



' Nov. 16, 1943. Q H. PETERSON UNIVERSAL SPRING HOQKING AND LOOPINGMACHINE 7 Sheets-Sheet l Filed March 13, 1942 m% m Y 5w 3- c. H.PETERSON UNIVERSAL SPRING HOOKING AND LOOPING MACHINE Filed March 13,1942 '7 Sheets-Sheet 2 ITZUQIZZOZ'. (491 A. PE

m m W #0: E Z

Nov. 16, 1943. Q PETERSON 2,334,505

UNIVERSAL sPRI 'Nq HOOKING AND LOOPING MACHINE Filed Mardh 13, 1942 7Sheets-Sheet 3 PIE. 3.

6424 H. frseao/g Nov. 16, 1943. H. PETERSON 2,334,505

UNIVERSAL SPRING HOOKING AND LOOPING MACHINE Nov. 16, 1943. Q TER N2,334,505

UNIVERSAL SPRING- HOOKING AND LOOPING MACHINE Filed March 13, 1942 7Sheets-Sheet 6 F'I-1[II FIEJE.

J8 -1780676501'. (4a A. PETE/850W,

Nov. 16, 1943. PETERS 2,334,505

UNIVERSAL SPRING HOOKI-NG AND LOOPING MACHINE Filed March 13,, 1942 7Sheets-Sheet 7 FIG. 19. FIG. 2C].

mnmm L Hz uh 1527/30? Patented Nov. 16, 1943 UNITED Q V "2,334,505 i I,UNIVERSAL SPRING nooknvenivonoon Carl H. Peterson; Worcester,Massfassignor to" The American Steel and Wire Company of'New 1 Jersey, acorporation of New Jerse V r Application March 13, 1942, sei ialnqggatoif i a 11 Claims. (01. 1 10- 103) L The present invention relates toan improved power driven tool adapted to receive coiled springs ofvarious sizes and to form hooks or loops on the ends thereof. i

An object of the invention is to provide a single power driven toolcapable. of handling a variety of diameters of springs and provided withdevices whereby hooks or loops differing in form and differentlydisposedwith respect to the axis of the spring can be produced at theend of the spring by making certain precision adjustments. The inventionwill be fully apparent from the following detailed disclosure when readin connection with the accompanying drawings and will be defined withparticularity. in the appended claims. 1. j

In the drawings: 7 1 Figure 1 is a plan view of thema'chine illustratinga preferred embodiment of the invention;

Figure 2 is an end view thereof; q Figure 3 is a longitudinal section online Ill III of Figure 2; 7

Figures 4, 5 and 6 are detailsectional views on the correspondinglynumbered section lines of Figure 1 illustratingthe cams and relatedmeans for actuating different essential operating parts of the device;

Figure 7 is a sectional elevation on line VIIVII of Figure 2;

Figure 8 is an enlarged detail view of a sprin in starting conditionplaced on a work carrier to be subsequently moved to an operativestation to have a hook or loop formed on one end thereof;

Figure 9 is a fragmentary View illustrating the position of'the parts'after the work carrier has moved the spring to the station it is tooccupy during the formation of a hook or loop thereon;

Figure lO is a fragmentary View of parts shown in Figures 8 and 9 afterthe spring carrier has been retracted and the spring has been grippedby" coacting clamp jaws and its extremity held, position to besubsequently acted upon by tools efiective to form thereof; 7 Figure 11is a diagrammatic Figure 10 but showing the backing tool in posi: tionfor later coaction with the bending tool;

Figure 12 is a view of the same parts shown in Figure 11 afterthebending tool'has inoved to a loop or hook at one extremity view similar;to"

we; ring-1115B 1 v position shown in'Figure 16;, l

oop amn rt n ered at: the end 'of the spring;

Figure 17 is a Figure 1 6;

detail: sf; shown in i re 18 is abottom;view Qfthespring shown QinFigureS 16 and fl'l illustratirig the double loop formedcentrallyjat thend thereof when the backing andxbending tools are adjusted to theFigure 19 is I'aYvievv shew "g the bending and backing ,tools adjustedto form aireye or loop tangent to theend C0118 thereof;.

' te minus of the same spring adapted to be proaol loop on one endthereof;

machine herein disclosed; and

25 Figure 16. Q

l Referring in V 'meral [0 represents the .base of ,the machine flf su e2 a de il q ihe f r si hv i m als; 1- i s .3. a

Figure 21 is an end View of the, spring. of Figures 19 and'20 showingthe tangent di'spositionofthe Figure v22 sayiewi msnauiigs spring havinga. ring-like loopedlright end which is disposed at right angles to thesimilar hooked end at the left duced by making appropriate adjustmentsin the "Figure 23is a plan viewer the @192 shown vcletailto drawings,the nuwhich is extended laterally at one side as viewed inplan toaccommodate a conventional form of drive motorijl 2 anda knowni typen ofgear reduction unit contained. within a'housing M; The

' 'motor I2 drives aivshaftflfi 'through the reduction able parts to behereinafter referred to in de-.

position to complete the formation of the hook] shown in Figure 14;

Figure 13 is a plan view of the iaws which hold the spring whileits endis being operated upo'n;

Figure 14 is a detail view of a spring having backing dies adjusted tofOIl'fi a doubl cousin unit which in turn drives a pulley. l8 and a beltThe belt- 20 is trained around andtherefore drives a pulley 22 carriedby the main shaft 124 of, the improved loop, Qforming ma'ohineiof thepresent invention. The main shaft 24 carries a manually operable handwheel 26 by means of which the mechanism pan be slowly turned over byhand to initiallyrset the various adjust- The improved machine isspecially designed Ito form various Items of books or loop sf on theextremities of springs" For purpose of ;i llustration I have shown avariety of hooks and loops in Figures ltthrough} 22, all ofjwhich can beformedjby making certain adjustments in the mechanism as willhereinafter appear.

In the manufacture of springs usedforvarious specialty items it isfrequently necessary to provide a hook or ring-like loop on oneor bothextremities oflthe spring so that such spring can alwaysjbeassembled andanchored in a given relative position with respect tot other deviceswhich it'is to operate. The machine of are present invention providescoac'tin'g instrumentalities specially designed for forming hooks o rrihgelike loops in a number of predetermined positions relative to the.spring proper, The

7 formed isreceived by the operatorin closely wound helicalconditiondevoidof hooks or projections of any kind suitable foranchoragepurposes.

Themachine includes a vertically movable carrier 28 which, in theembodimentillustrated, is f in the form of a rod securable atdifferent-ele--- vations in a lug 30 projecting laterally: from avertically movable slide 32. ,The lugcarries a the length of differentsize springs being handled.

On the lower'extremity of the carrier there is a depending shank 36,.thediameter of which 'makes a fairly snug fit with the interior of theparticular size of spring being handledrf It will be-understood thatcarriers of different diameters to suit different sizes 7 of springshandled may be received by the lug 30 and fitted to the machine bymanipulation of the set" screw 34. The machine is designedjfor manualfeeding while the carrier 28is m the upper dwell position shown inFigure 2. The operator engages a blank spring over the lower end of theshank 36 and gives the same an upwardmotionanda quick turn .or twist tothe left'so as to bring the end convolution 38 of the spring intoabutting engagement with a shoulder 40 forming jpart of a'notch 42provided in the carrier for this purpose."

Theslide 32 on' which the carrier 28 is mounted is connected by a, pinwith a slide 46 which isarran'ged to be' vertically reciprocated in onedirection by a cam '48 and in the'opposite direction by'a spring 59, thecam being mounted onthe main shaft 24. The main shaft 24'revolvesconstantly,but there is a concentric dwell portion on the cam ofsufiicient arcuate length to permit the carrier to remain in the ,upperor retracted position for a sufficient length'of time.

to enable the operator to engage the springs therewith. I f f Uponrotation of the cam 48 to predetermined position, the spring .5ll forcesthe carrier-downsameand permit it to be stripped from the carrier. Themechanism also includes ,a backing 7 up ,dieand a bending die, both ofwhich jointly cooperate with the holding or gripping means. The grippingmeans,'the backing up means and the hook bending tool are all soconstructed and arranged that they can be adjusted relative to one'anotherwith great precision so as to form the various types of loopedorhooked ends shownin Figures l4 through22.

g The gripping or holding means includes a normally fixed jaw body 52,whose inner extremity is provided with a V-shaped seat 54 (see Figure13), so as to eifectively grip the periphery of springs of'difierentdiameters. The body 52, is slotted at 55 to permit of adjustmentrelative to faSteningscreWs 56. The lateral position of the jaw. body 52canbe varied by manipulating theadjusting screw 58, a slidable mountingbeing provided therefor as shown.

A movable clamping jaw 60 is provided with arecessed'seat 62 iriitsinner extremity forlengagement with the side of the spring opposite theportion: engaged by the fixed jaw 52. This movable jaw'is 'carried'by alaterally movable slide 64 which is guided by an inclined gib 68suitably. secured to an upright frame member 68. The-movable jaw 68 isslotted at Iil'so as to permit adjustment relative to fastening screws'I2. An adjusting screw I4 threaded through a lug 76 serves to initiallyset with precision and set screw 34 by manipulation of which the vertical setting of the carrier can .be varied to suit --ho1dthe movablejaw in any desired predetermined position of adjustment.

An adjustable spring cushion element, such as shown at 11 in Figure 4,is provided to compensate for slight variations in diameter of springsto be hooked or looped so as to hold the spring firmly in the grip ofthe holding means While the hook or loop is being formed. This cushionelement may be conveniently built into the operating lever 88,hereinafter described, which actuates the slide 64.

' The slide 64 which actuates the movablejaw Ell is moved laterally by alever 89 which ha a yielding lost motion connection with a pin 82through the cushion'element Hg-This lever 80 is V carriedona supportingstud 84 and is-rocked'by' a lever arm 86 having a cam follower 88 at itsinner' extremity which receives motionfrom a cam 90. It 'willbe apparentthat upon rotation of the cam 9il the lever arms 80 and 86 will berocked about the supporting stud 84 to thus move the 'jaw inwardly intosuch position that its recessed seat 52 willengage the periphery of the"spring.'- Thus the fixed jaw 52 and the movable jaw 60 jointly grip theupper portion of the spring so as to firmly hold the same after thecarrier has been retracted. The cushion element TI in coacticn with thepin 32 provides a lost motion connection between the lever and the Slide64, thus making it possible for the cushion element to yield and thuscompensate for variations in the sizes of springs handled.

While the spring is so held by th jaws 52 and 69, a backing up diemember 92 and a bending tool 94 are adapted to come into play to deflecteither a part of, or one or more complete upper 'convolu'tions of thespring, from the position in which it was originally coiled, to variousdesired positions hereinafter more fully shown and described. 7 V

Thebacking up tool or die 92 is adjustably mounted on a slide 95 whichcarries alaterally extending lug 98 and an adjusting screw I80 andsecuring screws I82. Thescrews I02 pass through 5101:5104 so as topermit thelateral movement re quired of the backing up tool 92, as willbe understood. The slide 95 is connected by a pin I86 with a lever-armI98 mounted on .a rock shaft II 0. Another lever H2 is secured totheurock I shaft II 0 and at its outer end it carries a cam follower M4for 'ccaction'with a cam II6. secured to themain shaft 24., As thusarranged it will a cam I28 carried by the main shaft 24 be apparent thatrotation of the shaft 24lwill be effectiveto reciprocate. the backing updie'or tool 92 "in proper timed relation with the movements ofotherjp'arts previously referred to and to be hereinafter. described.

'. The bending or forming tool- 94 is adjustably mounted-one slide IIIwhich is guided by an inclined gib H8. The slide II'I carries a pin I20which is actuated by the upperend of a lever I22 mounted on theaforementioned supporting stud 84; The lever I22 has an inwardlyextended arm I24 carrying a cam follower I26for coaction with The slideII'I carries a iug I30 through which 'is threaded an adjusting screw I32which bears against'the rear face of the bending tool 94 on'the, slide.The body of this bending tool is slotted at I35 for coaction with thefastening screws I36. The parts as described are so constructed andarranged that the slide nrwnrmove inwardly to' an bent from itscoiledposition through-an angle of approximately 90 degrees. Thismovement is of:

fected by cooperation of the parts illustrated in Figures 8, 9 and'lO.-In so forming the spring end, the operator first places a piece ofhelicallycoiled stock on the shank 36 and givesthe-same a quick twistingmotion until the end coil of the blank spring comesto rest against theabutment portion 40 of the notch'42 formed in the carrier.

The carrier then moves the spring blankdownwardly to theposition ofFlgureg); where the fixed jaw 5-2 and the backing die 92 move inward tothe position of Figure 9." Immediately thereafter the gripper jaw 60moves'inward to the position of Figure 10; thus the 'springis firmlyheld in the grip of the jaws 52 and '65. The carrier 28 now movesupward, thus withdrawing the" shank from the gripped spring blank. Theforming or bending tool 94 is so adjusted thatthe underside of its innerpointed tooth 95 lies ina plane corresponding to the plane of theundersideoi the topmost convolution of the springto 'bea'ct'ed'upon, v-This position. of adjustment can besecured-with precision by adjustingthe screw 132; *When adjusted with such precisio-ri'the inward movementof the slide I ll willcarry the forming tool 94 from the position ofFigure 11 inward tothe'position tangent to the outermost coil,' asshown' in Figures 20- and 21; Figure 19 illustrates the action of theparts after they have been set and operated to bring aboutthis result; 1

Figure 22rillustrates a slight modification of the hooked ends inwhichthe hooks are substan tially complete rings formed by bending a completeconvolution at each end through. an-angle of about 90' degrees. The endhook-like loops are disposed at right angles' on the opposite ends, thisdisposition being securable at the will of the operatorby-properly-setting the notch 40 by turning and adjusting the carrier 28axially;

Invthe formation of the different configurations of hooks orloopedextremities formed on the spring,- anicet-y of adjustment'isrequired in orderthat either one full convolution or one half of asingle end convolution or two or more end convolutions will be properlyengaged by the backing up member 292. and by the bending tool 94.Inorder to secure this nicetyof adjustment the relative positions of thegripping jaws, the backing up die and the bending tool must beaccurately controlled." The precision. adjustment required for thisnicety of control is made possible by the utilization'of thespecific'supporting means illustrated including the inclined gibs, the

guide, the respective slides for supportingv the of Figure 12,whereuponone half'io-f the topmost convolution 38 of the spring-will bebent through an. angle of about 90 degrees from the coiled position ofFigures 9 and '10 to the substantially axial position of Figure 12.Thus, one half of the uppermost convolution er the'spring will be bentto a position-tctran'sform it into thesemicircular hook such asillustrated in Figures 14 and 15. Other configurations'and' dispositionsof hooks or ring-like extremities can' be' formed on the springs byadjusting theparts indifferent ways, as will now be described. 7

For example, by manipulatinglthe adjusting screws I00 and I32, thebacking updie 92 and the bending tool 94,*respectively can 'be settomovable grippers and the bending tool. Because these. members areinclined with respect to the horizontally disposed fixed member" 52 andthe backing up die 94, it will be appreciated that lateral adjustment ofmembers and 94' will vary the elevation at which they coact with thefixed die and the backing up die. In this way the mechanism is rendereduniversally adjustable so as to permit bending up of oneor more endconvolutions or a fractional part of a single end die is adjusted toposition, its: inner end over v the central axis of the *spring held bythe gripthe positions shown in Figure 16'f or-the purpose" 7 of formingthe double-ring-like loop on the end a of a spring as shown in Figuresl'i 'an d 18;- This adjustment can be made with-great precisionso as toproperly set the inner to'oth 95 of the tool 94 so it will, when movedinwardly from approximately the position ofliigure ll'toithe position ofFigure 16, engage the underside of the 'second convolution from the "topof the" spring andthus bend upwardly two of the-end coils "to disposethem axially across the diameter o'f'that end of the spring. The frontface of the tool 92is longer on one side than on the other, as shown inplan in Figure 23,'so asto accommodate the helical position of thelastconvolution of the spring. Thus the double loop'oflifigures' liandbacking up" die 92 -and the bending die 94' to respective appropriatepositions, these parts can be so set that they will bend the uppermostconvolution of the spring into a loop which is H l By laterallyadjusting an" interchangeable 7 pers', then the half convolutionopposite the backing die will be first pried upward-as the bendingtool'moves in towardsaid backing die; Continued inward movement of theforming tool will thus completing the semicircular hoop shown.

Thus it is manifest that by coordinating the initial elevationadjustment of the notched carrier with the respective precisionadjustments of the-grippers; the backing die and the bending tool; ar'large'variety of end hooks or loops can be formed to suit varyingrequirements on springs of a given uniform size, and by changing thesize of thecarrier shank, springs of difierent sizes can be readilyoperated upon.- -The yielding cushion members, through which motion istransmitted to the clamping, backing and bending tools, permit theuse ofa singlemachine having constant stroke levers and cams in handlingsprings of "different diameter or in handling-springs made from wire ofdifferent gauges, since the yielding of saidcushions will compensate forsuch variations. l

While I have described specific mechanism for producing springsha-yingterminal hooks or loops of specific kinds, it is not tob construed thatI am limited thereto since various modifications may be made by thoseskilled inthe art without departure from the invention asI-defined inthe appended claims.

I claim: 1. In a machine of the class described, a carrier havinga-shank torreceive a: length or coiled spring wire, said shank having anabut-ment for positioning. the end: convolution ofthe spring to be actedupon, means formovingthe carrier toward and, from a hook; forming,station, means at said station for gripping a, spring oarriediby saidshank,:,and means for bending one or more end convolutions of the springheld by said gripping? means through apredetermined angle,

2; :In a-machine ortheclass described,,a car: rier fora' spring whoseend convolution istoglge formed into aohook or loop, said carrier havingan abutment for-positioningothe end convolution of the spring to beactedupon, means'for moving said carriertoward. and from a'hook formingstation, grippers at saidstation forengaging each spring and holding itafter said carrier leaves said station, and means for bending one ormoreend convolutions of the spring into a plane substantiallyparallelwith the longitudinal axis thereon 3. I'n a machine of the classdescribed, a carrier. having ashanlsfor engagementgwith the end of alength of coiled spring wire,-said shanl; having an abutment forpositioning'the end convolutionof the spring to beacted upon, grippingmeans including ayielding cushion element effective to compensates-for.variations in spring sizes, and means for bendinga predetermined portionof the coiled extremity of the spring into a plane substantiallyparallel with the longitudinal axis of the spring.

4. In a machine of the class described, a-spring carrier having a shankto receive a coiledspring wire. movable toward and from" a formingstation, said shank having an abutment for positioning the endconvolution of the springto be acted upommeans at said station effectiveto grip a spring fed thereto and retain'it after the carrier isretracted, and coactingmembers engageable with an end coiled portion ofthe spring ef- -fective to bend it through a predetermined angle.

5. In a machine of the class describeda spring carrier movable towardand from a forming station, saidcarrier having an abutment for posi-:tioningthe end convolution of the spring to be k acted-upon,omeans atsaid station effective to gripa spring fed thereto and retain it afterthe carrier is retracted, coacting tools'.engage tion, means at saidstation: effective to grip a spring fed thereto and retain it after thecarrier is, retracted, coacting tools .engageable'with an 1 end coiledportion of the spring. eiiective to bend I i such coiled portion througha predetermined angle,:respective means for actuatingsaidtools, re-

spective movable supports for said toolsgmeans for adjusting one of saidtools with precision relablewith an end coiled portion of the spring 7effective to bend it through a predetermined angle, respective means foractuating said tools, anda yielding cushion element interposed betweenone of said tools and one of said actuating means effectiveto compensatefor variations in spring sizes. 1 V, a

6. In a machine of theclass described, a spring l carrier movable towardand from a hook forming station, said carrier havingan abutment forpositioning the end convolution of the spring to be acted upon, means atsaid station effective to grip a spring fed theretoland retain. it afterthe carrier is retracted, coacting tools engageable with an end coiledportion of the spring efiective to bend such coiled portion through apredeterminedangle, respective means for actuating said tools,respective movable supports for said tools, means for adjusting one ofsaidtools withpre- ..cision relative to its support so as to determine;whether one'or more convolutions of the spring or a fractional part ofa convolution shall be acted upon by said tool. I s a 7. In a machine ofthe class described, a spring carrier movable toward and from aiormin-gstaative to its, support so as to determine whether one or moreconvolutions or; a fractionalpart of a convolution shall be acted uponby said tool,

and ayielding cushion element interposed between said adjusting meansand said tool efiective to compensate for variations in'spring diametersor variations in the gaugeof wire from .which the'springs are made.

' 8.,In a machine of the character described, a slide mounted forvertical movement, a -carrier adjustably secured therein'having anabutment for positioning the end1of a'spring to be acted upon, means formoving said slide to and; from and the-actuating. mechanism therefor soas to compensate for Variations in the diameters of springs or in thegauge of the wire from which they are formed, respective laterallymovable slides on which said movable jaw and said bending tool aremounted, and respective means for adjusting with precision the positionsof said ,movablejaw and said bending tool relative to the respectiveslides which support'them.

10. Ina machine of the character described, coacting gripping elementsengageable with the periphery-of a spring, means for moving. saidelements into and out of gripping engagement with said spring, a diemember positioned for coactionwith an-end convolution of said-spring",

a bending tool coacting with said die member, supporting means for saidtool, means for guidingthe latter along a straight pathoblique to thelongitudinal axis of the spring, and means ,for, .moving the supportingmeans 'alongsaid i oblique path toward and from the spring.

- 11. In a machine of the character described,

coacting grippingelements engageable with the periphery of'a spring,means for. moving said elements into, and out of gripping engagementwith saidspring, a die member positioned for coaction withan endconvolution of saidspring,

a bending tool coacting with said die member,

supporting means'for saidtool, means for guiding the latter along astraight path oblique to the longitudinal axis of the spring, a cushionelement coacting with one ofthe gripping elements to compensate forvariations in sizes of springs engaged thereby, means for adjusting thebending tool relative to said supportingmeanslso as to vary theelevation at which the tool will engage an end convolution of saidspring, and

.means for moving said supportingfmeans along said oblique path towardand from the spring. H. PETERSON.

